US20110034224A1

US20110034224A1 - Operating device of a game console controller

Info

Publication number: US20110034224A1
Application number: US12/535,335
Authority: US
Inventors: Shih-Yen Liu
Original assignee: BESTRON TECHNOLOGY Co Ltd; CTA Digital Inc
Current assignee: CTA Digital Inc
Priority date: 2009-08-04
Filing date: 2009-08-04
Publication date: 2011-02-10

Abstract

An operating device of a game console controller replaces a game console controller to be held by a user, after being inserted with the controller, allowing an operator to play games more realistically. The operating device includes a seat body for putting into and positioning the controller, plural press rod assemblies on the seat body to correspond to push buttons of the controller and a shape housing installed on the seat body to enclose the seat body. A surface of the shape housing has plural through-holes to expose out end parts of the press rod assemblies and a realistic gaming effect can be increased by the shape housing; for example, the shape housing can be a mimicked shape of a bowling ball, a basketball, a football or other non-ball object, so as to improve an entertaining effect of games.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game apparatus, and more particularly to an operating device which is able to replace a game console controller for a user to hold after being inserted with the game console controller.
b) Description of the Prior Art
For an early game console (such as a TV game machine or a game platform), plural operation push buttons are provided on the game console controller, and a user needs to press some specific push buttons that the controller can produce specific output signals to the game console, in order to input game instructions.
In recent years, development of the controller gradually seeks for a humanized interface, wherein in addition to pressing specific push buttons to input game instructions, some game consoles can induce a position, a moving state and acceleration of the controller (such as a handle bar of a Wii machine), allowing an operator to input game instructions by swinging, moving or rotating the controller, which enables a game to be operated more realistically.
However, to cope with a sense of reality when operating various games, game vendors also come out with a specialized controller or operating interface designed for a specific game. Under a condition that a production cost and a price reflected cannot be accepted by most consumers, most of these specialized controllers or operating interfaces cannot be designed with a 1:1 scale in shape or be produced in a completely realistic manner. In addition, as inducers related to the swinging, moving or rotating operation needs to be built in, the sale price is still expensive for an ordinary consumer. On the other hand, before playing games, a user also needs to recharge plural kinds of controllers of various shapes; otherwise, if the user forgets to recharge a dedicated controller of a next game when the next game is to be played, then the controller will not be able to be used. Besides, when replacing a controller, the user also needs to carry out scanning of transmission signals to the controller again and this is rather inconvenient in use.
As a result, a lot of consumers are still using a standard controller equipped with a game console to play games, allowing reality of the game to be diminished significantly; for example, it will be very unhandy if the operator holds by a hand a controller in a long strip shape to play a bowling game.
Accordingly, development for improving the reality of game is carried out by the present inventor and a mechanical operating device is designed such that the operating device can be combined with the standard controller to improve the reality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an operating device which can fit with a standard controller to improve reality of a game.
The operating device of the game console controller of the present invention can be held by a user to replace a game console controller (such as an operating handle bar of a Wii machine) after being inserted with the game console controller. The operating device includes primarily a seat body, plural press rod assemblies and a shape housing.
The said seat body is provided with a holding slot into which the controller is inserted and positioned, the press rod assemblies are provided on the seat body and penetrate the holding slot to correspond to push buttons of the controller, whereas the shape housing is provided on the seat body to enclose the seat body and a surface of the shape housing is provided with plural through-holes for exposing out end parts of the aforementioned plural press rod assemblies.
As a result, when a user is to input game instructions through the push buttons of the controller, he or she can press the end parts of the press rod assemblies to trigger the push buttons without losing functions operated by the push buttons as the controller is enclosed by the seat body and the shape housing. Besides, when the user is to input game instructions by swinging, moving or rotating, he or she can directly hold the operating device to operate realistically, thereby developing a largest effect of entertaining and sporting.
In comparison with the prior art, the operating device of the game console controller of the present invention is a pure mechanical operating device which is able to combine with a standard controller to improve reality and uses a power source and induction devices built in inside the controller to develop functions of inputting game instructions; therefore, it does not involve deployment of electronic circuits in manufacturing, which effectively reduces a production cost and is without an issue of whether to recharge the controller before playing games. In addition, when a game is to be replaced, a user only needs to take the controller out of the operating device and then put the controller into another operating device, a shape of which corresponds to a content of the game, that the game can be played immediately without considering an issue of power source and carrying out scanning of transmission signals again. Furthermore, through the present invention, either the controller of wired or wireless transmission can result in an entertaining effect of realistic operation.
To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a first three-dimensional exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a second three-dimensional exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the present invention combing with a controller.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of an operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of an implementation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention fitted with wired control.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of an implementation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention fitted with wireless control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it shows a three-dimensional exploded view and a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, an operating device 100 allows a game console controller 200 to be inserted into to replace the controller 200. In the present embodiment, an entire shape of the operating device 100 mimics a bowling ball, but in an actual implementation, the operating device can be a mimicked shape of other ball, sporting good or equipment emulated in a game content. If the controller 200 is a wireless transmission controller 200 (such as an operating handle bar of a Wii machine), then an opening 101 can be provided on the operating device 100 to expose out an induction end of the controller 200, preventing from blocking transmission of wireless signals. On the other hand, if the controller 200 is a wired transmission controller 200, then the opening 101 can allow a transmission wire to pass through.
Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, it shows a first and second three-dimensional exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention for manifesting a three-dimensional exploded configuration when being seen at different view angles. The operating device 100 comprises primarily a seat body 10, plural press rod assemblies 20 and a shape housing 30.
The seat body 10 includes a first bed plate 11 and a second bed plate 12 which is engaged with the first bed plate 11. A holding slot 13 is formed between the first bed plate 11 and the second bed plate 12 to put into the controller 200.
The press rod assemblies 20 are provided on the seat body 10 and penetrate the holding slot 13 to correspond to push buttons of the controller 200. The press rod assemblies 20 are a mechanism which can result in linking when a user touches, allowing the user to indirectly press the push buttons on the controller 200 through the press rod assemblies 20.
Each press rod assembly 20 includes a press end 21 for an operator to press, a link rod 22 which is connected at the press end 21 and a contact end 23 which is connected at the link rod 22 to touch with a push button 201 (as shown in FIG. 5) of the controller 200. The contact end 23 can be elastically restored or can swing and rotate.
The shape housing 30 is installed on the seat body 10 to enclose the seat body 10 and includes a first housing 31 which is provided on the first bed plate 11 and a second housing 32 which is provided on the second bed plate 12 to be engaged with the first housing 31. A surface of the shape housing 30 is provided with plural through-holes 33 allowing end parts of the aforementioned plural press rod assemblies 20 to expose out and is provided with holes 34 allowing fingers of the operator to snap into.
The aforementioned second bed plate 12 is provided with plural snap assemblies 14 which are snapped at the first housing 31, allowing the first bed plate 11 to be engaged with the second bed plate 12. In addition, the aforementioned snap assemblies 14 are provided with quick release buttons 15 and the second housing 32 is provided with through-holes 35 to expose out the quick release buttons 15.
Referring to FIG. 5, it shows a schematic view of the present invention combining with a controller. When the controller 200 is put into the holding slot 13 for positioning, the press rod assemblies 20 penetrate the holding slot 13 to correspond to the push buttons 201 of the controller 200 and when the user is to input game instructions through the push buttons 201 of the controller 200, he or she can press the end parts of the press rod assemblies 20 to trigger the push buttons 201 without losing functions operated by the push buttons 201 as the controller 200 is enclosed by the seat body 10 and the shape housing 30. If the controller 200 can transmit and receive wireless signals, then the opening 101 can provide for an induction end 202 of the controller 200 to expose out, so as to facilitate transmitting and receiving the wireless signals.
Referring to FIG. 6, it shows a schematic view of an operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. When a game console induces a position, a moving state and acceleration of the controller 200 (such as an operating handle bar of a Wii machine) and the user is to input game instructions by swinging, moving or rotating, he or she can directly hold the operating device 100 to operate realistically, utilizing the controller 200 that is fixed in the operating device 100 to develop a largest effect of entertaining and sporting by swinging, moving and rotating simultaneously. Besides, the shape housing 30 can be further provided with a safe loose-proof rope 40 which can be worn on a wrist of the operator when playing games to prevent the operating device 100 from dropping out or flying out during the game. In the present embodiment, the press end 21 of one press rod assembly 20 is provided at a location to be touched easily when the user is holding the operating device 100, so as to facilitate the user to press that press rod assembly 20 at a same time.
Referring to FIG. 7, it shows a schematic view of an implementation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention fitted with wired control. As shown in the drawing, when the user presses down the press end 21 of the press rod assembly 20, the link rod 22 will be pushed to drive the contact end 23 to touch with the push button 201 of the controller 200, allowing the controller 200 to send out a wired control signal to a game console 300 through wired transmission.
Referring to FIG. 8, it shows a schematic view of an implementation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention fitted with wireless control. As shown in the drawing, when the user presses down the press end 21 of the press rod assembly 20, the link rod 22 will be pushed to drive the contact end 23 to touch with the push button 201 of the controller 200, allowing the controller 200 to send out a wireless control signal to the game console 300 through wireless transmission.
It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An operating device of a game console controller, replacing a game console controller to be held by a user, after being inserted with the controller, comprising a seat body which is provided with a holding slot to put into the controller; plural press rod assemblies which are provided on the seat body and penetrate the holding slot to correspond to push buttons of the controller; and a shape housing, which is provided on the seat body to enclose the seat body and a surface of which is provided with plural through-holes to expose out end parts of the press rod assemblies.

2. The operating device of a game console controller according to claim 1, wherein the shape housing is roughly in a ball shape.

3. The operating device of a game console controller according to claim 2, wherein the shape housing is provided with plural holes allowing fingers of an operator to snap into.

4. The operating device of a game console controller according to claim 1, wherein the seat body includes a first bed plate and a second bed plate which is engaged with the first bed plate, the shape housing includes a first housing which is provided on the first bed plate and a second housing which is provided on the second bed plate to be engaged with the first housing.

5. The operating device of a game console controller, according to claim 4, wherein the second bed plate is provided with plural snap assemblies which are snapped at the first housing, allowing the first bed plate to be engaged with the second bed plate, with the snap assemblies being provided with quick release buttons and the second housing being provided with through-holes to expose out the quick release buttons.

6. The operating device of a game console controller according to claim 1, wherein the shape housing is provided with a safe loose-proof rope.

7. The operating device of a game console controller according to claim 1, wherein the press rod assembly includes a press end allowing an operator to press, a link rod which is connected at the press end and a contact end which is connected at the link rod to touch with a push button of the controller.

8. The operating device of a game console controller according to claim 1, wherein the operating device is provided with an opening allowing a transmission wire of the controller to pass through and the controller sends out a wired control signal inside the operating device through the transmission wire by wired transmission.

9. The operating device of a game console controller according to claim 1, wherein the operating device is provided with an opening to expose out an induction end of the controller and the controller sends out a wireless control signal inside the operating device through the induction end by wireless transmission.